THERE is no lack of parking spaces in Nelson despite drivers' perceptions, according to a Pendle Council report.

A survey of long and short stay car parks found up to 100 spare places are always available although not always where motorists would like to park.

The report found long-stay spaces were concentrated on the Admiral shopping centre side of the town centre and drivers, particularly women, were often unwilling to use the multi-storey car park above the shopping centre because of fear of crime.

But council services director, John Kirk, told the authority's Nelson area committee that CCTV security cameras had a dramatic effect on cutting crime and many of the town's parking problems were down to drivers wanting to park close to where they were going rather than using an under-used car park a few minutes' walk away.

The survey found the centre has 461 long-stay spaces. Even at the busiest times on Thursday and Friday between a quarter and a fifth of them were empty.

The survey was commissioned after concerns that spaces lost to the Morrison's supermarket development could hit local drivers.

A further study will take place next month once the supermarket is open to give a truer picture of parking.

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